Vehicle directional and emergency parking signal control system



Jan. 26, 1954 J. R. HOLLINS 2,667,603 VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL AND EMERGENCY PARKING SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 1, 1951 HE-ADLAMP CONTRO Swrrc H TO BATTERY TO BATTERY 4o BQAKE OPERATED SWn-QH DARKIN 5 LAMP A I ARKING I C 7 STQPLAMP STOP LA P BATTERY Patented Jan. 26, 1954 .RAEK INQfiIGNAL CONTRQ Q Br oklyn; N; Y. Ap ication Decemb .195 Se ial; No; 1259A 8 Tfila .11 silhisdmgention relatesito. signal lamnpircnits for motor vehicles and, more; cpa1.ticular1 y,.,,to a noveldirectional. si na in sw t hin GOmbina- .tion-with, noyeLsignaL lamnandflasher ,circnits.

1; -Modern. mot yehicles are eqn np dwithltw I ,pairs ;of .lalfnps for signallingchangies; in ldirecltion one pair bein ,molmted ,0n, .either,.side7. of thej,front.- -,of...the vehicle and the other pair on either side ofethe reanof the vehicle, Aselector s.wit,ch.is. pr0vided gz-lanips orr-both right. lamps, preferably. in-. circuit with e a. flasher.v to .fffiash the i selectively illnniimated-lamps. Frequently; the vvvparlringy,anri tail atlampscf the Yehicleare -usedias thesignallamps. The flasher generally includes a resistance. wire whit/his always in circuit-and whiclris periodicallywshunt dbypp ati nof a movable swit h arzm .resnonsivetc heati a f th lre istan wir fi'his .aizmmakes-alternatecentacts withrtwa e m nal All/Then .the; ilesistance wircv; is, not shunted, its high resistance prevents .a nyeffectiye currentfiow to the signal lamps, so that the lamps are-. energized pnlyrnhenrthe resistance wire is shunted bx.theemovabledflashen:arm. When,the,;latter shunts the; resistance. wire,1.the. wire, coolseand tithe. flasher ,.arm. adiseneaees. the.. shunting scontact.v An,..indicating pilot.lamplis nsually associated .ewith thes signal lamps .and... energized throu h a relay-v wh h c o i s. cma s.-ea.ch time-the .lan psare energized by the flasher.

.-..'I he. signalli ne. lamps on .eithersidehi the vehic1e .,are selectively energized, sin,theusual case, by azswingingselectorleven; Whenseparate siganallllamps are provided, a. switch .operated .by leyercconnectsthe schema-lamps right .or left), to the source of electric enengythrpughjhe flashe1.-- .lWhen theparkingand. tail orstoplarnps w ou le as..the .sienal lamps, the switch. normally connects these lamps ,.to respective, switches.

. twhensthel selector. lever ,is r operated, the switch,

isconnects, the.. selected. lamps ,.f,r omv their con- ...trol switches and connects them to-.- thebattcry ,-.,th1 'o ugh;.the.,flasher. In either case,. g flashing righteturn? or,.,fleft. turni signal is; provided. .-.In.- fi,CCOlfdanCB- With the, novel signalling. control .arrangement. is provided including a swingable selector arm ,io nselectiyely signalling. a ,turnand anadditianal .flarejm, arm for simu1tane.onsly flashing. all the signal. lamps eitherjn synchronism, or alternation. .Aslthe '1' load ,of all the lamps, if imposed simultaneously -on the fiashen, would overload-i thelfiasher contacts and.,shorten ,,itslife,. the-invention control .includesq annovel .circnit. .arrangementwhereby l the signal; lainp .load, is ivide tQselecti ely, energize-both left sashes. a lateralofise present invention a... 1.

i wo. equal .I m tts. on y onecf whi hdmws itscurrentthml h the main flasher contacts. Thus, evenywithjall :lalnps being flashed ,at once, the; fl8-$h 2-0h carry only. their normaldesignload.

Q Eon tan; understand-ingot, the invention. ,princip les,. referenceg,is.- made to. the ,followjng. de-

aqqompamihadrafina .Ll

I ingleifig-iire is afschematiqwirx e d as amci a jveh c s nal la p 0ircuitem- ..bo ,dying i the; invention control arrangement.

-. 1er11ine-. c td awins. thei v n n si u ..-t17ated,.= byiwartexample: only, as-inco 'porated in a signalling system'of the type in which ,the

- vehiole parkinesand.,stonlanipsam,also used as tu n. vs1s li-ns.. mp The control. swit h; -10, which in pra cticesis inounted{ .on a. suitable; base mor enclosed, in asiiitabh housing,Iis provided l with, .a swingablngm unted selectorlleyer .;.l 5. con- Q tro inshe tu si nallin and... a.-Ie ipr.0ab1y mounted tiliafel ava. :20 operable to .{flash all hesignaL-Janms atlonce. sL l' r lim y be :swingalcly mounted ,cna. pivpt ,nin,-.-0n shaft 1 I which; also extends throughQan ;ielong-ated slot I 2z inlleyer ,2 B perrnit ting' longituid-inal i eciprocation ,of the ,latter. ,Leyen l l 5 in- ;.,c,1ndes; anelongatedmperating handle}! 3 enlarged -swfj a 6' sobstantially sector. shaped. about im enand-in lud sswitch.opera ting or .cainining surfaces lli and 111.

Lever 29 may be normally spring biased to the pqsitions shown. .o mmay b mere y .rel asably latched in; either lllhis lever s. z wx 7. a substantially trian anoperatins headi-zwith switch operating or ca nmin g surfaces" greases- ,40..stanti all y parallel,.;respecti rely, .to sine-faces J6; and

EJl f leVerJE.

h itches enaanaen' wh' structi nesogthatson f detaiL-sfiwitchfiflincludes alln ik .-.-re ci nro c. ble pperatorre 1, mmqv ment percent; ularlytolsur-fe 4 22.and.-carryinstc itact str 31.732 lithel" ,side. spring;33.'hiases operator towardsur- ,Iaces'gl! and .23. t; .Three pairs-.of contacts.3631 and-38, warear ansedi t s fectiveint rccniie t o by contact strips 3|, 32. l ope enter contact 3,6..36' oteacn switch i gcon- .nectedwtoheadlamp control switch vit WhiQhmin ums l .,ct l...t ...t le iclel,batte sv and contact 52. The left lamps 2|) carries a contact strip 29 cooperable with three contacts 4|, 42, 43. Contact 4| is con-v nected in parallel to innermost contacts 38, 36,

(right) P An abutment 28 on one side of flare lever, life of flasher 50.

and contact 42 to innermost contacts 38, 38.--"- Contacts 4| and 43 are individually connected, in

a novel manner, to through a fuse 44 to the grounded vehicle battery 46 (which is in parallel with the vehicle generator). I

The flasher 50 has a movable contact arm 5| which is normally biased out of engagement with a main flasher contact 52 by means including a high resistance wire 53. Wire 53 is connected between flasher terminals 54 and 56, terminal 54 being connected to fuse 44, and terminal 56 to main contact 52. The latter is connected, in series, with the operating coil 56 of a pilot lamp relay 55, to contact 4|. The arm 51 of relay 55 is normally disengaged from a relay contact 58 connected to a grounded pilot or indicator lamp 60.

For a purpose to be described, contact 58 is also connected to switch contact 43. Relay arm 51 is connected to terminal 54, and thus to fuse 44 in parallel with resistance wire 53. It will be noted that, when the lamps 40, 45 and/or 40, 45' are connected in circuit, the current flows through wire 53, arm 5| being disengaged from contact 52. The resistance of wire 53 is so high that the lamps do not receive sufiicient current to be lighted. As wire 53 heats, it lengthens and arm 5| snaps into engagement with contact 52 lighting the lamps and energizing relay coil 56 to engage arm 51 with contact 58 to light lamp 6D. Wire 53, being thus shunted, cools and contracts I to disengage arm 5| from main contact 52, ex-

This

tinguishing the signal and pilot lamps. operation is cyclically repeated to flash the lamps.

In the switch position shown in the drawing, the parking lamps are connected to headlamp control switch through contacts 36, 31 and strip 3|, and contacts 36, 31 and strip 3|. Similarly, the stop lamps are connected to switch 21 through the outer and intermediate contacts engaged by strips 32, 32'.

To signal a left turn, selector lever I5 is swung counterclockwise so that surface l6 of head |5 engages operator and moves it inwardly to disengage contacts 36 and connect contacts 31 to contacts 38. Lamps 40, 45 are now connected to flasher 50 through contacts 31, strips 3|, 32, contacts 38, contact 4|, relay coil 56 and main 40, 45 are thus flashed in synchronism with pilot, lamp 60. The right lamps 46, 45 may be similarly flashed by swinging lever |5 clockwise, the contacts 38, 38' being connected to contact 4| through contact 42 and strip 29. j

To flash all the lamps at once as warning flares for an emergency stop or parking, lever 20 is pulled by grasping abutment 2|. Strip 29 a flasher 50 connected disconnects contact 42 from contact 4| and interconnects contacts 42 and 43. Surfaces 23 and 24 on head 22 move operators 35, 35' to disengage the outer pair of contacts 36, 35' and connect the intermediate contacts 31, 31' to the corresponding inner contacts 38, 38. Lamps and are again connected to flasher through contact 4| as previously described, and flash in synchronism with lamp 60.

However, if all the lamps were energized through main contact 52, this contact and arm 5| would be overloaded, tending to shorten the Such overloading is avoided by energizing the right lamps 43', 45' through relay contact 58 thus shunting arm 5| and main contact 52. Lamps 40 and 45 are connected to fuse 44 through contacts 31', strips 3|, 32', contacts 38, contact 42, contact 43, relay contact 58 and relay arm 51. These lamps thus flash simultaneously with the left lamps and lamp 60, as relay closes each time the flasher lights lamps 40 and 45.

Thus, the invention arrangement provides for normal operation of the parking and stop lamps,

for selective flashing of either the right or left lamps, and for simultaneous flashing of all of the lamps, the latter being effected without overloading the flasher through connecting one set of lamps through the flasher relay.

Should independent signal lamps be provided, the described and illustrated arrangement is modified by omitting the circuit connections to headlamp control switch 25 and stop lamp switch 21, otherwise operating exactly as described herein.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles thereof, it should be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A motor vehicle signalling control, comprising a pair of switches mounted in spaced relation to each other, each switch including a first pair of contacts each connectible to a signal lamp on one side of the vehicle, a second pair of contacts, and an operator normally engaged with said first pair of contacts and movable to a second position interconnecting each of the first pair of contacts to a corresponding contact of the second pair; a flasher connected to the vehicle electric energy source and having a main, normally open contact; a relay associated. with said flasher and operable when said main contact is closed; said relay having an armature and a front contact normally disengaged by said armature; a grounded indicator lamp connected to said front contact; means connecting said armature to said energy source in shunt with said flasher; a selector lever m0v with the operating coil of said relay,

ably mounted between said switches and operable to selectively engage either switch operator to move the same to said second position; a flare lever movably mounted between said switches and selectively operable to engage both switch operators simultaneously to move both thereof to said second position; and switch means associated with and operable by said flare lever and connected to each of said second pairs of contacts, said flasher main contact in series and to said relay front contact; said switch means, in the non-operated position of said flare lever, connecting both of said second pairs of contacts to saw- 6 5 rsaid :flashen: main :contact and,- in: the;selectiv e1y flare lever, connecting ne' pairrof second contacts to-said main contact nd': the other pair of second contacts to said -rfronticontact; lwhereby; when said selector leven- 5- is selectively- .zoperated, ythesignal lamps .on. one .tfiside'iof .thevehicle Will .:be flashedthrough said :ilectively operated the signal lamps :onxone side :Q 50f the vehicle will be flashedthrough: said: main contact and; the. signal lampson the other. side la'mps are flashed.

2.'- Amotor'veh-icle signalling'control comprising a pair of switches mountedxin spacedrela- --tion=-to eachother; each switch including a .flrst zpair of contacts 'each 'conn'ectible to a-signallamp '-'on' -on'e side of thejvehicle, a second pair oficon-czo tacts; and an operatornormally engaged: with -said- -firstpair of contacts and movable toaasecond -positioninterconnecting each of the first pair of contacts to a corresponding contact of heasecondl paira aflasher connected to. the. vel'-:h'icle' electric energy source. and having amain, is-lnormallyiopen contact; a .relay. associated. with 1'. said fiasher and operablewhen said: mainicontact *is closed ;-:said relayhaving an armature and a i front:contact'normally disengaged by said arma-vture; apgrounded indicator lamp connected to said front. contact; means connecting said armature to-said energysouroe in shunt withsaid I -flasher; aselector. leveriswingably mounted .on

a pivotintermediate said switchesand operable to l J to selectively.'engageeither. switch operator to move .the same to'said second position; a flare -='lever mounted for reciprocation in alignment with =-Lsaidpivot and intermediate said switches and selectively operable: to engage both switch op- -30 erators -simultaneouslyto move both thereof to if said: second position; and switch means associated with and operable by saidflare lever and connected to each of said second pairs of con- --tacts, said flasher main contact in series with the xoperating coil of said relay, and tosaid relay front contact; said switch means, inthenon- 4 operated position of i said -flare leverg connecting both of said second pairs of contacts to -said flasher -main =contactand, --inthe selecti'vely op-- 'era-ted position of said flare lever; connecting one :pair of second 'contacts to said 'maincontact and '-"-'the other pair of second contacts to said front contact whereby; when w said--selector lever is selectivelyoperated, the signal lamps on one-side, o'f thevehicle' wi11-be flashed through said-main -*-contact,- and when said flare lever is selectively oper-a'ted, the signallamps-on one side of the -Vehlcle' will be flashed throughsaid main contactiand' the signal lamps. on the otherlside of 0" the vehicle willloe. flashed through. said front contact; said pilotlamp being flashed vloy said i relaywhenever either or bothsets of signal lamps are "flashed.

3:. A motor vehicle signalling control-compris ing a pair of switches mounted insspaced rela- J ;tion toseach other each' switch including a first -pair'ofcontacts each connectible: toia signal lamp on oneside of the vehicle, a second p'air of contacts, "andan operator normally engaged with said first pairof-contacts and mov'able to a sec- 0nd-positioninterconnecting each of the first pai-rl'of-contacts to a corresponding contact of the-second pair; aflasher'connected to the vec-no mal ri c c co t ct saidwflashenandgoperabl I t tact is closed;said relayqhaving an armatultet-and a front, g'contact normally:- disengagedby said selector lever is to saidsecond I v mounted between said switches: and selectives-said flare lever parallel to the ,Of reciprocation,- and selectively a relay associated with en-sa d, mam gonarmature a grounded -indicatorllampl onn ted "to said ;fr.ont".contactnmeans:connecting said armature t said enerev sourcein-shunt with aid '.maini:contact. and when said "flare leverriszser flasher v a= selector-clever swingably mounted. :on

a a pivot intermediate zsaid-usvwitchfis and including -.an- .operating handle and a headhavingcamming ,surfaces selectivelyengageable with either switch operator :to rmovemthe same, to. saidcsecond pposition a flare leven-mounted for reciprocationkgin ...;alignment zwith sai d, pivot and intermediate said switches and- -;iI.-1cl,udi,ng a head having camming surfaces aligned with said operators, saidi flare lever being-selectively operableto engage loath its camming surfaces simultaneously withvsaid operators to move both pperators to:said second position; and switch means associatedewith and aoperableby; said flarelever and connected,to- ,e ach I of said second pairs'ofcontacts said flasherrmain contact inseries with the operating coilofgsaid relay,- and to saidrelay front contact;saidswitch means, in the'non-operated position of said flare lever, connecting-both ;of\ saidsecond pairsi-of contacts to" saidflashermaincontact-andain, the

selectively operated;

position of said -.;flare.- 1ever,

connecting :one pair of s econd contacts-@to s aid main contact and the-jotherrpair of ;second-c ontacts to said front contact; wherebmwhensaid selectively operated; the signal lamps on one sideoflthe-vehiclewill be ,flashed through saidmain -contact,-.and when said-.flare lever is selectively ,operatedgcthe signal. lamps on one side of the vehicle will be-flashedi-through said main contact and thesignal.- -lamps;.on;,;the

. other side of the.--vehicle will be flashed-through said frontcontact; said pilot .l-ampbeing flashed by: said relay whenever either. or both: sets; of

signal lampsare- -flashed.

4. A motor vehicle signalling'control: comprising a. pair. of switches mounted in spaced relationto each-other,-each.-switch including a first pair of contacts -.--each-.connectible *to aasignal lampon one sideof-the contacts,. and-an operatornormally engaged with said first ,painofcontacts and ,movable; to a; secondljposition interconnectingeach-of the first pair of ,contacts at. a:

.1 the secondpaim, alzflashenconnected to the ve- .hicle. electric. energysource, and having a normally open contact; a' relay associated with ,saidflasher, and, .oper ble. when saidmain convehicle, a second painof cor-responding contact. of

tact is' closed; said relay having an armatureand a front contact normally disengagedbysaid armature; a grounded indicator lamp connected to a said front contact; means connectingssaid armature to said ,energy source :in-shunt with said flasher; aselectorlever movably. mounted betweensaid-switches and operable to; selectively engage either switch-operator to movethesame position aaflare lever :movably ly operable -to .-engage both switch-operators simultaneously "tomove lcoth thereof to said'secstrip normallyinterconnectingsaid firstand second contacts and; ,in the selectively 1 opera-ted position of said flare. lever,interconnecting: only said.- second 'andithirdjcontacts said first; contact --liicle electric=energy' source 'and havinga main;

bein connected in* parallel; to. the-,zsecond pair of contacts of one switch and to said main flasher contact in series with the relay operating coil, said second contact being connected to the second pair of contacts of the other switch, and said third contact being connected to said relay front contact; whereby, when said selector lever is selectively operated, the signal lamps on one side of the vehicle will be flashed through said main contact and, when said flare lever is selectively operated, the signal lamps on one side of the vehicle will be flashed through said main contact and the signal lamps on the other side of the vehicle will be flashed through said front contact;

said pilot lamps being flashed by said relay whenever either or both sets of signal lamps are flashed.

5. A motor vehicle signalling control comprising a pair of switches mounted in spaced relation to each other, each switch including a first pair of contacts each connectible to a signal lamp on one side of the vehicle, a second pair of contacts, and an operator normally engaged with said first pair of contacts and movable to a second position interconnecting each of the first pair of contacts to a corresponding contact of the second pair; a flasher connected to the vehicle electric energy source and having a main, normally open contact; a relay associated with said flasher and operable when said main contact is closed; said relay having an armature and a front contact normally disengaged by said armature; a grounded indicator lamp connected to said front contact; means connecting said armature to said energy source in shunt with said flasher; a selector lever swingably mounted on a pivot intermediate said switches and operable to selectively engage either switch operator to move the same to said second position; a flare lever mounted for reciprocation in alignment with said pivot and intermediate said switches and selectively operable to engage both switch operators simultaneously to move both thereof to said second position; and a contact strip extending along said flare lever parallel to the latters direction of reciprocation, and selectively engageable with first, second and third aligned contacts, said strip normally interconnecting said first and second contacts and, in the selectively operated position of said flare lever, interconnecting only said second and third contacts; said first contact being connected in parallel to the second pair of contacts of one switch and to said main flasher contact in series with the relay operating coil, said second contact being connected to the second pair of contacts of the other switch, and said third contact being connected to said relay front contact; whereby, when said selector lever is selectively operated, the signal lamps on one side of the vehicle will be flashed through said main contact and, when said flare lever is selectively operated, the signal lamps on one side of the vehicle will be flashed through said main contact and the signal lamps on the other side of the vehicle will be flashed through said front contact; said pilot lamps being flashed by said relay whenever either or both sets of signal lamps are flashed.

6. A motor vehicle signalling control comprising a pair of switches mounted in spaced relation to each other, each switch including a first pair of contacts each ccnnectible to a signal lamp on one side of the vehicle, a second pair of contacts, and an operator normally engaged with said first pair of contacts and movable to a second position interconnecting each of the first pair of contacts to a corresponding contact of the second pair; a flasher connected to the vehicle electric energy source and having a main, normally open contact; a relay associated with said flasher and operable when said main contact is closed; said relay having an armature and a front contact normally disengaged by said armature; a grounded indicator lamp connected to said front contact; means connecting said armature to said energy source in shunt with said flasher; a selector lever swingably mounted on a pivot intermediate said switches and including an operating handle and a head having camming surfaces selectively engageable with either switch operator to move the same to said second position; a flare lever mounted for reciprocation in alignment with said pivot and intermediate said switches and including a head having camming surfaces aligned with said operators, said flare lever being selectively operable to engage both its camming surfaces simultaneously with said operators to move both operators to said second position; and a contact strip extending along said flare lever parallel to the latters direction of reciprocation, and selectively engageable with first, second and third aligned contacts, said strip normally interconnecting said first and second contacts and, in the selectively operated position of said flare lever, interconnecting only said second and third contacts; said first contact being connected in parallel to the second pair of contacts of one switch and to said main flasher contact in series with the relay operating coil, said second contact being connected to the second pair of contacts of the other switch, and said third contact being connected to said relay front contact; whereby, when said selector lever is selectively operated, the signal lamps on one side of the vehicle will be flashed through said main contact and, when said flare lever is selectively operated, the signal lamps on one side of the vehicle will be flashed through said main contact and the signal lamps on the other side of the vehicle will be flashed through said front contact; said pilot lamps being flashed by said relay whenever either or both sets of signal lamps are flashed.

7. A motor vehicle signalling control comprising a pair of switches mounted in spaced relation to each other, each switch including a first pair of contacts respectively connected to a front and a rear marker lamp on one side of the vehicle, a second pair of contacts, a third pair of contacts respectively connected to a head lamp control switch and a brake operated switch, and an operator normally engaged with said first and third pairs of contacts and movable to a second position interconnecting each of the first pair of contacts to a corresponding contact of the second pair; a flasher conected to the vehicle electric energy source and having a main, normally open contact; a relay associated with said flasher and operable when said main contact is closed, said relay having an armature and a front contact normally disengaged by said armature; a grounded indicator lamp connected to said front contact; means connecting said armature to said energy source in shunt with said flasher; a selector lever movably mounted between said switches and operable to selectively engage either switch operator to move the same to said second position; a flare lever movably mounted between said switches and selectively operable to engage both switch operators simultaneously to move both thereof to said second position; and switch means 9 associated with and operable by said flare lever and connected to each of said second pairs of contacts, said flasher main contact in series; with the operating coil of said relay, and to saiclfielay front contact; said switch means, in the' nonoperated position of said flare lever, connecting both of said second pairs of contacts to said flash er main contact and, in the selectively operated position of said flare lever, connecting one pair of second contacts to said main contact and the other pair of second contacts to said front'contact; whereby, when said selector lever isfselectively operated, the signal lamps on one side of the vehicle will be flashed through said-"main contact, and when said flare lever is selectively operated, the signal lamps on one side [of the vehicle will be flashed through said main contact and the signal lamps on the other side of the vehicle will be flashed through said front contact; said pilot lamp being flashed by said relay whenever either or both sets of signal lamps are flashed; said first named switches, in the nonoperated positions of both levers, connecting the front lamps to the head lamp control switch and the rear lamps to the brake operated switch.

JESSE R. HOLLINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,090,332 ONeil Aug. 17, 1937 2,514,604 Hollins July 11, 1950 2,562,274 Hollins July 31, 1951 2,562,275 Hollins July 31. 1951 

